Wildspeak
words by Sangma Francis
pictures by Lexi Vangsnes
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2026. 36 pages.
Review written August 13, 2026, from a library book.
Starred Review
Wildspeak is a wondrous and wonder-filled picture book about creativity and exploring the natural world.
We see a mother and two girls heading off on a nature walk. All three have brown skin, and a dog is happily bounding along with them.
In the wide, wide world with its wide, wide skies,
there are wild, wild words waiting to be spoken.
First, the book highlights some imaginative words that describe nature, like “dragonflies,” and “waterweeds.” But then they begin making up words of their own, like “Sunglitter,” to describe the scatter of light off water. And then they make a game of it:
“What’s the word for the shininess of pebbles underneath?” Cora asks.
It’s time for Wildspeak! On the next spread, they shout the words, “Stonelight,” “Bottomshimmer,” “Rockglisten,” and “Goblingems.”
And so the book continues. I’m not sure where they find so many different spaces for their nature walk – meadows, beach, mountain, forest – but in each space they highlight some existing wild words, and then make up new ones of their own.
For example, when a wave goes out and leaves sea stones drying in the sun, the girls call it, “Beachcrackle,” “Foamdry,” “Poolfizz,” and “Stonebreath.”
At the end of the day, they write their new words in their nature journal.
The end papers are fun, showing that nature journal, and including a taped-in glossary of some of the existing wildspeak words encountered earlier in the book.
This book is more for young elementary school kids than preschoolers – kids that can write down their new words. But preschoolers can get in on the imagination and wonder.
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